School fears heritage review will be ‘rubber stamp’ for demolition

Parents are worried their children may have to attend other schools outside their catchment if their Brisbane primary school is demolished to make way for a Gabba Olympics redevelopment.

State government officials are set to attend a Brisbane primary school under threat from an Olympics redevelopment for a “routine” visit, sparking fears that its heritage-listed status could be reviewed.

The East Brisbane State School community and Greens MP Amy MacMahon expressed concern the 123-year-old school could be bulldozed as part of the Gabba redevelopment ahead of the 2032 Games.

The Environment and Science Department confirmed officers would attend the school for a separate visit that was not linked to the proposed redevelopment plans for the Gabba.

A department spokesman denied the school’s heritage status was under review and said the department was “working with school officials for a suitable date to visit”.

“The department routinely visits state heritage-listed places in Queensland to ensure the information in their heritage register entry documents is up to date and the structures at those places are adequately described,” he said.

The spokesman the independent Queensland Heritage Council decides whether to add a place to or remove it from the Queensland Heritage Register.

The school stands next to the iconic Gabba sporting grounds, which is pitched to undergo a $1bn redevelopment to increase its capacity to 50,000 spectators and be the centrepiece for the Games.

Member for South Brisbane Amy MacMahon said the surrounding community harboured fears that the heritage-listed school was under review and that it could be revoked.

Member for South Brisbane Amy MacMahon. Picture: Liam Kidston

“East Brisbane State School has shared a block with the Gabba for more than 120 years and has educated thousands of Queensland kids,” Ms MacMahon said.

“The school community worries that any review of the heritage status will just be used as a rubber stamp to bulldoze the school.

“The minister said in parliament that the government has no plans set in stone yet, but we know that the department is weighing up the option of closing the school and sending kids outside the catchment.”

The school’s Olympic Action Group chair Nicky Middleton said the community felt it would not be consulted regarding the future plans.

Ms Middleton said the community had been in the dark for more than 12 months.

“Our children would lose their school identity; they would have to travel outside the catchment and the nearest schools – Dutton Park, Coorparoo and Buranda – would somehow have to find room for them,” she said.

The Education Department said the Gabba redevelopment was expected to affect the school during construction and over the long term.

East Brisbane State School. Picture: Richard Walker

“Once a decision has been made on the extent and timing of the stadium rebuild, options will be discussed with the school,” a spokesman said.

“We have always committed to undertake further consultation with the East Brisbane SS community.

“The Queensland Government is committed to working with the school community to understand the community’s views, and ensure the school community remains informed as more information comes to hand.”

The department confirmed Education Minister Grace Grace would meet the school and its parents and citizens next month.

During a budget estimates hearing on Thursday, Ms Grace said while no plans were finalised for the Gabba redevelopment, the school would be affected in some capacity.

“As Minister for Education, I am happy for the school to remain where it is,” she said.

Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

“We know that they are going to be impacted. We are not in a cocoon where we do not see the outside world.

“The Gabba redevelopment is expected to impact the East Brisbane State School.”

But Ms Grace also accused the Greens of spreading “misinformation”, saying “no decisions have been made (and) no final designs are available”.

“If you have any information that you can give them, please share it with me, because at the moment no decision has been made,” she said.

“We have committed to full consultation with that school community, but I just do not want it to be fake consultation for consultation‘s sake.

“That is disrespectful to that school community. I want to give them the information they justly deserve to make an informed decision and work with us on what we need to do in relation to East Brisbane State School.”